The numbers are staggering: approximately 61.5 million Americans experience a mental illness in a given year, 20% of youth ages 13 to 18 experience mental illness in a given year, 9.2 million Americans have a co-occurring disorder, and a full one half of all mental illness begins by age 14.

There are more disturbing numbers. However, with all of the millions of Americans who experience a mental illness, why isn’t more done? Why is there such a stigma still involved? How can you help?

Educate yourself by attending NAMI meetings or classes, such as Family to Family or Basics. Come to the general meetings. Advocate for yourself and/or your loved one. Write your legislators (see attached list). The word needs to get out that a mental illness is a physical one.

As the month draws to a close, get the word out that mental illness may not be curable, but it is definitely treatable, much like diabetes or heart disease.